Elara
I took my time, freshening up then dressing before going to the hospital. By the time I got there, Ethan's ward was now a bit stuffy– his colleague from work that brought him over, Samantha and my mother-in-law. I stood by the door waiting for at least, one person to leave the room and finally, the colleague left.
Ethan was still unconscious and connected to a drip. I walked in before his mother and Samantha finally noticed me– this was how insignificant I was to them. “You're finally here, you definitely took your time getting here. Samantha even made it here before you.” Mary, my mother-in-law said. I stole a quick glance at Samantha, her head was slightly bent as she blushed, “No mum, it doesn't matter. Elara must've been busy.” “What's more important than her husband?” Mary snarled, her temper slowly rising.
Uhm… hello! My life.
I calmly took out my phone from my handbag and checked the time, “So what did the doctor say is wrong with him?” I asked but I already knew exactly what was wrong with Ethan– it was his kidney failure. This was the exact day Ethan started to exhibit symptoms before the results were released a week after.
Samantha answered so meticulously and concerned, and if one didn't know any better, they'd think she was the patient’s wife. “The doctor took his blood to run some tests and would perform a scan on him once he wakes up. They said the results may not be out today as his condition seems sudden but before the week is up, we'd know.”
Just then, Ethan coughed and took in his surroundings before Samantha and his mother rushed over to him to help him sit upright. “Drink some water. Your throat must be parched,” Samantha took a disposable cup and poured him water from the flask Mary brought while I just stood at the foot of his bed watching like a bystander. “How do you feel now?” Mary asked her son, fussing over him like he almost lost a limb. “I'm fine, mum.” Ethan nodded. I cleared my throat, “So I'd be leaving now. I have somewhere to be and a lot of work piled up for me.” Yeah, I had a job just before Ethan got sick.
Ethan and I worked in the same company ever since we got married. I took my work so seriously that I was granted three positions higher than Ethan last month. The new position didn't require my presence at the office daily and paid so well. I could easily work from home which was why in my previous life, I wasn't able to get wind of Ethan's and Samantha's silly affair. This was the same job I gave up to Ethan when I started getting sick. Considering the amount of absence I took from working for a long period of time– during which I was taking care of Ethan when he had just gotten my kidney transplanted.
Mind you, I also underwent surgery too. The period I took off work was too much and when we both healed, Samantha suggested I recommend Ethan for my position to the higher-ups while I focus on getting myself back because I always complained of slight pains to her and I never found it the least suspicious. “But you only just got here,” Samantha whined.
Yes, go on. Paint me the victim.
“She must be so excited that Ethan's in this state so she could use that to climb the work ladder even more,” Mary sneered. I wasn't going to take that insult, though the old me would've. “Ethan only fainted, he didn't lose his head so I suggest y'all stop fussing like silly adults. I remember one time when I fainted due to work stress and overexerting my body, when I woke up, I still cooked dinner for Ethan,” I said, calmly.
Then I turned to Samantha, “Besides, don't you have work or something to do rather than spend the whole day with another woman's husband?” Samantha’s cheek turned slightly pink and she bowed her head down slightly, “No, it's not like t–that.” Mary snarled, “She's simply doing what the wife cannot do.” “Oh?” I smiled calmly, “Then let her keep up the good work as I trust Ethan's in safe hands. So that means I can go to work now with a free mind, knowing that you both are with him.” Ethan just sat there, like a headless chicken watching the act that unfolded.
They looked taken aback by my behavior, the old Elara would have never done what I just did, not even in her wildest dreams. The old Elara would've taken the insults and still be submissive, trying to please her husband, mother-in-law and her best friend all at once.
I walked out of the ward with a smile. I had only just begun and I was going to make them feel torture quadruple of what I felt on that cold operating table.